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Tribute to IreneM
Tribute to IreneM
freakin_hilarious


Photograph Information Photographer's Comments
Challenge: Deja Vu III (Advanced Editing V*)
Camera: Canon EOS-400D Rebel XTi
Lens: Canon EF 100mm f/2.8 USM Macro
Location: Albuquerque, NM
Date: Sep 16, 2007
Aperture: f/16
ISO: 100
Shutter: 1/200 sec
Galleries: Macro, Food and Drink
Date Uploaded: Sep 16, 2007

 This is, of course, an attempt to create an Irene-esqe image. I have some new Alien Bees, so I figured I'd try the ol' drop shot. Man, it was challenging. I took about 1200 shots today, of which this is the best. It doesn't look exactly like one of Irene's ribbon winners, but I like the way it turned out. I was going for "coffee with a 'drop' of milk".

Two AB400 Alien Bee strobes on the front left and right (at full power) with shoot-through umbrellas attached. There is a piece of white foamcore just behind the bowl of coffee.

Just like Irene's original, this is milk dropped into coffee. The key is to get two drops in very quick succession to head on down toward the coffee. With perfect timing, the first drop hits the coffee and bounces back up just in time for the second drop to hit it and form the umbrella. Of course, you gotta hit the shutter at this same moment.

Shot in RAW: adjusted white balance and exposure

PS:
Crop
Curves
Selective Color (bumped the blacks a little)
High radius USM for more contrast
NI
Selective saturation
Cloned out a few stray drops and a tiny corner of the bowl (bottom right)
Resize
USM (300,.3,0)
Save for web

Statistics
Place: 26 out of 111
Avg (all users): 6.6667
Avg (commenters): 7.5263
Avg (participants): 6.4182
Avg (non-participants): 6.7981
Views since voting: 2069
Views during voting: 421
Votes: 159
Comments: 25
Favorites: 0

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AuthorThread
 09/24/2007 09:14:23 AM
This shot is just as good if not better than Irene's. I say better b/c it is a different angle..and it works here.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 09/24/2007 02:03:47 AM
What a great job you did with this. Kudos!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 09/24/2007 12:59:27 AM
Too bad you don't get extra points for difficulty factor. Impressive.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 09/24/2007 12:50:35 AM
Nathan, you did a GREAT job on this. The creaminess of the splash and the colour of the coffee are perfect. I love it and thanks for the Deja Vu.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 Comments Made During the Challenge
09/23/2007 11:26:09 PM
Well done!!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 09/22/2007 06:17:47 PM
Oh so close, and on a difficult shot, by itself a 10 but in comparison to the original, my vote a 8.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 09/21/2007 08:29:01 PM
nicely done - 10
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 09/20/2007 10:00:42 AM
While the splash is not a clean vertical mushroom shape like it is in IreneM original it is still a spectacular capture. Love the soft colors of the milk as it blends into with the coffee in 'hatlike' splash shape. The way the colors blend and fold in that hatlike portion projects two more senses: that of touch with those soft tones and the smooth caramel texture seen & that of taste for the creamy mix of color looks so smooth we can almost taste it. My only critiques is that I wish that it had the same sharp detail on those small droplets fanning out from the main splash & that the color of the coffee was a richer brown. The richer brown tone can easily be achieved with either adjusting the Brightness/Contrast or adjusting the color balance. The sharpness on those smaller drops - well that is just sheer luck and a ton of patience. Easier said than done for in a recent thread IreneM said she easily went through 4,000 photos in a weekend and ditched them all for they weren't good. So kudos to you for having the time and patience to capture just this one.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 09/20/2007 12:37:57 AM
She is the master. Pretty good attempt. I figure this took you over 200 shots, 3 + hours, + a messy kitchen and an upset wife! ;) 8
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 09/19/2007 09:14:35 PM
Great tribute!! The cream is a nice change!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 09/19/2007 07:03:12 PM
A very good attempt at Irene's specialty. It's really close like hers. It's really sharp like hers. It's really well lit like hers. It just doesn't have the height like hers. Keep trying. You'll get it one day. Me? I wouldn't even know how to begin to try.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 09/19/2007 03:34:31 PM
Beautiful mixing of the milk and coffee in the drop ring. The threads through the circle are almost like one of Ursula's fairy like seed images. I think you've certainly done justice to IreneM's image.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 09/19/2007 11:13:51 AM
excellent! Not quite as good as the IreneM efforts but then she uses magic i think :)
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 09/19/2007 02:45:31 AM
This is a beauty.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 09/18/2007 05:31:18 PM
Irene is amazing. you did a great job. I love how sharp and shiny the liquid is.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 09/18/2007 02:43:32 PM
IreneM's splashes are so hard to do, this is actually a good attempt. 7
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 09/17/2007 09:15:48 PM
Wow - very well done!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 09/17/2007 05:04:41 PM
Irene's work with droplets is a tough nut to crack...you did an admirable job! Bravo! It's all about the timing. The inside even looks like a SMILE! The ends of the 'splatter' could be a bit sharper and more defined but worthy attempt! *8*
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 09/17/2007 03:19:15 PM
not an easy shot to recreate. You've taken a more top-down angle for your shot which makes for a different overall feel.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 09/17/2007 01:22:36 PM
Very nicely done!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 09/17/2007 06:58:46 AM
great try, but you need a faster shutter speed.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 09/17/2007 04:12:07 AM
a very good effort. exposure was a little too long, but the moment almost perfect.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 09/17/2007 02:22:37 AM
Excellent work! I spent several hours trying to do this today...... it ain't easy!!!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 09/17/2007 12:39:44 AM
The little drops aren't sharp but beyond that this looks like Irene took it. I love the subtle detail in the milk. Overall, very impressive!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 09/17/2007 12:23:40 AM
you certainly have done a great job here, except that the composition feels a bit uncomfortable...the spash detail is amazing
  Photographer found comment helpful.


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